Just when I begin to think that I have heard of every restaurant in Macon, I am surprised to find that there still are plenty of places that simply fly under my radar. Brasserie Circa was one of those.
Owned by the same restaurant group which owns Macon staples such as Bearfoot Tavern and the Tic Toc Room, Brasserie Circa is a restaurant that flaunts a menu which ranges from sushi to steak to pasta.
Located on Forsyth Road, Circa is a chic, upscale lunch and dinner spot with a surprisingly casual environment.
The Good
The Steak
I ordered the specialty Espresso Rubbed Porterhouse, and it was everything I could have ever wanted. The steak came in a sauce that had the slightly bitter and smoky tinge of espresso, which complimented the sauce’s sweetness.
Ben Meyers and James Smith, two sophomore friends who ate with me, both ordered the 14 oz. Ribeye steak. They both praised their steaks for being cooked well, tender and flavorful.
The Fish
“The trout was buttery and topped with toasted almonds, which worked really well,” said Peter Garcia, the photographer that evening.
Troy Ater, another sophomore who ate with us, ordered the seared tuna. Although he thought it was just barely overcooked, he enjoyed the fresh mango pieces, which brought the perfect amount of sweetness.
The Sides
I only mention this because too often great steaks are served with sub-average sides. Circa certainly gets high marks for their delicious mac and cheese and the excellent mashed potatoes.
The Bread
The server brought out freshly baked homemade bread to start the meal, which everyone at the table agreed was one of the best parts of the dining experience.
The Menu
This restaurant is great for groups that cannot decide what they want just because they have so much variety. Not only that, but the prices of different dishes vary.
“You can spend a lot or not that much. I would come back anytime I needed a casual, affordable and nice place.” Smith said.
The Atmosphere
The one thing I always hate about upscale places is the quiet and stuck-up atmosphere. It could not be more different at Circa. There was a buzz of conversation throughout the restaurant making it feel comfortable and exciting.
The Questionable
The Price
While the price is certainly worth the quality of food, it should be noted that most everything on the menu is in the 15 to 20 dollar range, with a few exceptions.
The Dessert
For dessert, our table split a white chocolate tuxedo cake. The cake looked beautiful and tasted just as good. However, it was nothing special compared to the food.
The Bad
The Gratuity
The menu says that they only charge gratuity for groups of seven or more, but our table of six still got charged gratuity. Not the end of the world, but it did make paying the bill even less enjoyable than it would have been
Rating:
Will 4.5/5
Peter 4.75/5
